Education and skills


From 7 May 2024, The North East Evidence Hub is a project of the North East Combined Authority. Find out more at northeast-ca.gov.uk/north-east-lep Search Search Home Spotlight Analysis Evidence by Theme News & Commentary Education and skills Charts and commentary on the latest statistics about schools, further education, apprenticeships and higher education. Also includes data about adult skills levels and workplace training. Home ThemesEducation and skills Latest data The North East lags behind the rest of the UK on a number of educational indicators. This is a big challenge for the region as we look to grow the economy and create sustainable jobs for the future. This section looks at some of those measures including outcomes for 16-18 year olds, levels of education and training participation amongst young people, apprenticeship starts and outcomes, adult qualification levels and work-based training. Skill-shortage vacancies, skills gaps and employee training Data from the employer skills survey, including the extent and types of vacancies, employee skills gaps and types of training provided by employers. Education and skills View about View Education (16-18) Outcomes The numbers and percentages of students continuing to education, apprenticeship or employment destinations in the year after completing 16 to 18 study in North East schools and colleges Education and skills Newcastle North Tyneside South Tyneside Durham Gateshead Sunderland Northumberland View about View Research and innovation funding UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding in the North East; Research Council funds for universities with an estimate for Net Zero related projects Net Zero Education and skills View about View Key Stage 4 Achievements GCSE grades by North East Educational Area Education and skills View about View Graduate outcomes Data of the migration of graduate to and from the North East and their employment outcomes Education and skills View about View Education and training participation and NEET (young people) Rates of participation in education and training and NEET for those aged 16 to 17. NEET and employment rates for under 25s. Education and skills Newcastle North Tyneside South Tyneside Durham Gateshead Sunderland Northumberland View about View Adult further education and skills North East achievements and participation in adult (19+) FE and skills, including formal education and training as well as community learning Education and skills Newcastle North Tyneside South Tyneside Durham Gateshead Sunderland Northumberland View about View Apprenticeship achievements and starts North East apprenticeship starts and achievements, with comparisons over time, by learner characteristic, level and local area. Education and skills Newcastle North Tyneside South Tyneside Durham Gateshead Sunderland Northumberland View about View Apprenticeship outcomes Statistics on the employment and learning outcomes of apprenticeship learners Education and skills Newcastle North Tyneside South Tyneside Durham Gateshead Sunderland Northumberland View about View Adult Education and Training Outcomes Statistics on the employment and learning outcomes of adult education and learning learners (excluding apprentices) Education and skills Newcastle North Tyneside South Tyneside Durham Gateshead Sunderland Northumberland View about View Key Stage 4 destinations Data on what pupils do after KS4 study (usually year 11) Education and skills Newcastle North Tyneside South Tyneside Durham Gateshead Sunderland Northumberland View about View Job-related training Proportion of working residents receiving job-related training Education and skills Newcastle North Tyneside South Tyneside Durham Gateshead Sunderland Northumberland View about View Higher Education - Student enrollments Data on the amount of students at our universities Education and skills Newcastle Durham Sunderland View about View Free school meal eligibility The number and percentage of North East state-funded pupils eligible for free school meals Standards of Living Education and skills Newcastle North Tyneside South Tyneside Durham Gateshead Sunderland Northumberland View about View Qualifications Profile of the highest levels of qualification of the North East working age population Education and skills Newcastle North Tyneside South Tyneside Durham Gateshead Sunderland Northumberland View about View Spotlight analysis Understanding skills demand within domestic energy To achieve the 2050 Net Zero targets, the UK must decarbonise the heating market at a rate of 20,000 homes per week by 2025. This presents a significant skills challenge to solve in terms of scale, pace and quality. This skills needs assessments aims to explore the opportunities this presents for the region. In response to these skills challenges and opportunities identified, the North East LEP alongside the North East and Yorkshire Energy Hub Board commissioned a skills needs assessment of domestic retrofit. Ideas for Change Consulting and kMatrix Data Services were commissioned to deliver the assessment, exploring the breadth and depth of current skills provision for domestic retrofit; the barriers, challenges and gaps in training provision; qualifications needed for domestic retrofit initiatives and assessment of ‘market demand’ for such skills. This would be brought together into a 10-year legacy plan for futureproofing and strategy development. Read the assessment Exploring Apprenticeships in the North East LEP area In 2022, the North East LEP commissioned Wavehill to undertake a research project focused on exploring the scale of apprenticeship recruitment and retention and to test the assumptions identified as a priority for the Apprenticeship Provider Group. The ambition was to provide a set of actionable priorities for increasing the number of young people starting and sustaining apprenticeships. During the pandemic the group met twice a term and during this period it was evident that the recruitment of apprenticeships, especially for the younger age groups of 16-18 year olds, was increasingly more problematic than it was for adult apprenticeships. Provider group discussions revealed that whilst it was "felt" the region's experiences mirrored those reflected nationally, there had been a longstanding concern and decline in apprenticeships prior to March 2020. The pandemic had exacerbated this with the provider group agreeing there was high value in undertaking empirical research, in the absence of any current, regional deep dives into apprenticeships for 16-18 year olds. The aim being to arrive at evidence-based conclusions and actionable priorities to increase apprenticeship recruitment and retention. Read the analysis Publications Opportunity North East: Final Report Opportunity North East (ONE) was a three-year, £24 million, Department for Education (DfE) sponsored project. ONE is part of DfE’s commitment to improve education and boost productivity in the North East and Tees Valley areas. Education and skills Evaluation View about View North East Ambition Career Benchmarks: Primary Pilot This interim evaluation report compromises of data and intelligence gathered at the start of the Pilot and at the end of Year 1. Education and skills View about View Employment and skills needs of the offshore wind, tourism, and health and social care sectors in the North East LEP area To inform the work of the North East Skills Advisory Panel, this research study explored the skills demand within three sectors. Education and skills Energy View about View Understanding skills provision in the Offshore Wind industry Energi Coast Skills Group commissioned a survey exploring skills provision in the North East. Education and skills View about View North East LEP Local Skills Report In March 2022, the North East LEP produced a local skills report Education and skills View about View North East Ambition Career Benchmarks: Primary Pilot. Year 1 report This interim evaluation report compromises of data and intelligence gathered at the start of the Pilot and at the end of Year 1. Education and skills Evaluation View about View Opportunity North East Summary Report April 2020 ONE is a data driven project, collating and extrapolating data from a student level up to whole project level. This report presents headline findings to help inform decision making for the project moving forward. Education and skills Evaluation View about View Rapid review of potential labour and skills impact on the green economy and digital skills within health and social care The Institute of Employment Studies completed a rapid literature review to understand the labour and skills impacts of developments in digital and technology within health and social health and the green economy. Net Zero Education and skills View about View Exploring future skills needs within the Health and Life Sciences ecosystem On behalf of the North East Skills Advisory Panel, the North East LEP has explored current and future skills needs within a growing area of our regional economy. Education and skills View about View Digital Exclusion in the North East Commissioned by the North East LEP’s Skills Advisory Panel (SAP), the report highlights the impact digital exclusion in the North East is having on people’s ability to access education, skills and employment. Education and skills View about View News and commentary Artificial intelligence will change how we work in the North East, but differently to elsewhere Thomas Athey, Senior Economic Analyst at the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (North East LEP), discusses which jobs in the North East are most likely... Read more about Artificial intelligence will change how we work in the North East, but differently to elsewhere How apprenticeships create new opportunities for businesses and workers in the North East Apprenticeships are a critical component of the North East’s skills provision. Looking at the Local Skills Improvement Plans which cover the North East LEP ... Read more about How apprenticeships create new opportunities for businesses and workers in the North East North East brain drain? The statistics tell a different story Thomas Athey, Economic Analyst at the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (North East LEP), discusses the recent graduate outcomes data published on the ... Read more about North East brain drain? The statistics tell a different story See all articles

Home ThemesEducation and skills

Latest data

The North East lags behind the rest of the UK on a number of educational indicators. This is a big challenge for the region as we look to grow the economy and create sustainable jobs for the future. This section looks at some of those measures including outcomes for 16-18 year olds, levels of education and training participation amongst young people, apprenticeship starts and outcomes, adult qualification levels and work-based training.

Spotlight analysis

Understanding skills demand within domestic energy

To achieve the 2050 Net Zero targets, the UK must decarbonise the heating market at a rate of 20,000 homes per week by 2025. This presents a significant skills challenge to solve in terms of scale, pace and quality. This skills needs assessments aims to explore the opportunities this presents for the region.

In response to these skills challenges and opportunities identified, the North East LEP alongside the North East and Yorkshire Energy Hub Board commissioned a skills needs assessment of domestic retrofit.

Ideas for Change Consulting and kMatrix Data Services were commissioned to deliver the assessment, exploring the breadth and depth of current skills provision for domestic retrofit; the barriers, challenges and gaps in training provision; qualifications needed for domestic retrofit initiatives and assessment of ‘market demand’ for such skills. This would be brought together into a 10-year legacy plan for futureproofing and strategy development.

Read the assessment

Exploring Apprenticeships in the North East LEP area

In 2022, the North East LEP commissioned Wavehill to undertake a research project focused on exploring the scale of apprenticeship recruitment and retention and to test the assumptions identified as a priority for the Apprenticeship Provider Group. The ambition was to provide a set of actionable priorities for increasing the number of young people starting and sustaining apprenticeships.

During the pandemic the group met twice a term and during this period it was evident that the recruitment of apprenticeships, especially for the younger age groups of 16-18 year olds, was increasingly more problematic than it was for adult apprenticeships. Provider group discussions revealed that whilst it was "felt" the region's experiences mirrored those reflected nationally, there had been a longstanding concern and decline in apprenticeships prior to March 2020. The pandemic had exacerbated this with the provider group agreeing there was high value in undertaking empirical research, in the absence of any current, regional deep dives into apprenticeships for 16-18 year olds. The aim being to arrive at evidence-based conclusions and actionable priorities to increase apprenticeship recruitment and retention.